Bottle-stopper.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

H. K. GILBERT. BOTTLE STOPPBR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. 1905.

witwaaom UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY K. GILBERT, OF NIAGARA FALLs, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO FRANKLIN J. ROBINSON, or HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND.

BQTTLE-ISTOPPEIR.

Patented March 27, 1906.

' and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Bottle- Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bottle-stoppers of that class which are designed to constitute a self-sealing stopper, being formed ofrubber or analogous material and embodying a stopper portion designed to fit within the neck or mouth of the bottle'and a skirt or flange designed to fold down over the stopper portion and embrace the neck of the bottle, where it is held by frictional and elastic engagement and serving to effectually seal the bottle and prevent escape of its contents, it'bei'ng capable, as found from actual experience, of retaining liquids under'pressure, such as beerand the like. In devices of this character as heretofore proposed no provision has been made for the expansion of the stopper proper to accommodate it to bottles having various-sized mouths, it being necessary to make the stopper in many sizes to adapt it for the varioussized bottles. Furthermore, the point of junction of the stopper proper with the skirt has been made on a curve, which did not insure a close sealing or closure of the bottle at the point where the skirt is bent over and a consequent liability of the escape of the liquid at that point. I aim to overcome these objectionable features, and to this end I provide the stopper with means for expanding its stopper proper portion, so that one size of sto per may be made to fit a variety of sizes of ottles, and by making the stopper with a square shoulder at the junction of the stopper groper with its skirt Iinsure a close and tighttting closure at the outer end of the mouth of the bottle. I mold or cast the stopper with a threaded tapered socketor depression to receive a screw threaded expander of aluminium or some other light and cheap material which when forced in will expand the stopper proper portion, and thus I avoid the necessity of making a diflerent-sized stopper for every size of bottle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the app ended claims.

' The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a substantially central longitudinal section through a stop er embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a su stantially central longitudinal section through a bottle,

showing the stopper in position therein. Fig.

3 is a top plan of the bottle with the stopper in place and the skirt turned down over the mouth of the bottle.

' Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the different views.

I construct the stopper of a fine quallty of .rubber, whereby I am enabled to make the skirt portion quite thin and yet have it sufliciently strong to stand all the strain that will ever be put upon it in turning it down over the neck of the bottle or in taking it off of the same. Y

The stopper comprises a stopper pro er portion,' 1, and a skirt portion 2, the latter eing quite thin and of greater cross-section or diameter than the portion 1, there being a square shoulder 3, at the junction thereof greater stretch of the skirt is provided and the outer wall of the stopper proper is pulled more firmly against the inner wall of the neck to insure a gas and air tight oint.

In order to provide for the expansion of the stopper portion 1, I mold the same with an interior socket or depression 4, which is formed with screw-threads '6, as seen, and adapted 'to engage the same is-a tapered expander 7, of a uminium or any other suitable material, exteriorly threaded and normally of greater diameter than the socket or depression, so that when entered in the socket it may be screwed thereinto and cause the walls of the portion 1 to expand sufficiently to adapt it for use in connection with bot tles of different-sized mouths or necks. This expander is shown as provided with a teat or projection 8, by which it may be readily turned when desired.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a novel form 'of self-sealing bottlestopper with means for expanding the stopper portion thereof when desired, and while the structural embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed is what I at the present time consider preferable it is evident that the same is subject to changes, variations, and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction shown and described, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed as new is- 1. A bottle-stopper comprising a stopper portion and an integral skirt portion of rubber, with a square shoulder at the junction of the stopper portion and the skirt.

2. Abottle-stopper of elastic material comprising in a single piece a stopper portion and a skirt with a square shoulder at the junction of the stopper portion and. skirt exteriorly and interiorly.

3. A self-sealing bottle-stopper of elastic material comprising a stopper portion andv a skirt, and means for expanding the stopper portion.

4:. A self-sealing bottle-stopper of elastic material comprising a stopper portion with an interiorly-threaded socket and a skirt, and a screw-threaded expanding device adapted to engage in said socket to expand the stopper portion.

5. A self-sealing bottle-stopper of flexible material embodying in one piece a stopper portion and a skirt with a square shoulder at the junction thereof, and an expanding device adapted to engage in said stopper portion to expand the same.

Signed by me at Washington, District of Columbia, this 21st day of June, 1905.

HENRY K. GILBERT.

Witnesses E. W. BOND, EDITH R. BOND. 

